Museum

Welcome to the educational and cultural wing of the Antiochian Village Conference Center! Exhibits of the museum’s permanent collection include:

- Hand-embroidered clothing from Syria and the Holy Land- Inlaid wood furniture from Damascus- Antique engravings and lithographs of the Near East- Eastern Orthodox iconography of Russian, Greek and Syrian origin- Interactive touchscreen exhibit about St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn- And much more!

The Antiochian Heritage Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the artistic, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Near East, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and its roots in and around Antioch (Syria). Exhibits range from the richly inlaid wood furniture of Damascus, Syria to antique religious icons that have served for centuries as windows into the heavenly realm; from the delicate jewelry and metal work of the Middle East to the colorful hand-embroidery of a 19th century Bethlehem dress.

Saint Raphael Bishop of Brooklyn

An all-new exhibit honoring Saint Raphael of Brooklyn is now on permanent exhibit in the museum, including liturgical items from his burial casket, as well as an interactive touchscreen display featuring highlights from his life story.

Born in 1860, and raised in Damascus, Syria in a devout Orthodox Christian family, St. Raphael received his seminary education on the island of Halki in Turkey in preparation for becoming a priest and bishop. In 1895, he arrived in New York to pastor its Arabic-speaking Christian community, and was a beloved early pioneer of Orthodox Christianity in the United States. In 1904, he became the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on North American soil. He traveled the continent, tirelessly serving Orthodox communities throughout America until his death in 1915. Originally buried in Brooklyn, New York, St. Raphael’s remains were brought to the Holy Resurrection Cemetery on the grounds of the Antiochian Village Camp in 1989. He was recognized as a saint in the year 2000.

Thinking of donating items to our collection?

For further information about our collections and exhibits, please contact us!

Current Exhibits

Voyages East: Antique Prints of Syria and the Holy Land.

From the ancient Cedars of Lebanon to great castles overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, this series of hand-colored engravings captures the beauty of the region as seen through the eyes of 19th century British artist William Bartlett.

Saint Raphael: Scholar & Shepherd.

We are pleased to introduce an interactive touchscreen display honoring Saint Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn. Come and explore his fascinating life story, and highlights from the theological thesis he wrote at the age of 25, when he was still a student in seminary.

Titanic Connections: Unique and Untold Stories.

An exploration of passenger stories connected to the Antiochian heritage and western Pennsylvania.

Past Exhibits

A variety of exhibits have been presented since our museum wing was built in 2004, including:

Eternal Spring: the art of Leila Chokheli.

A colorful display celebrating the joyous spirit and abiding faith of the artist, who lived for decades under Communist rule in her native Georgia.

Women with Icons: photographs by Jocelyn Mathewes.

Honoring the beauty and meaning of iconography, through a series of portraits of Orthodox Christian women with their patron saint icons.

Splendor of Damascus: textiles and artifacts of traditional Syria.

Selections on loan from the private collection of Farah and Hanan Munayyer.